Caster



(No Model.)

A. CURRIER.

OASTER.

No. 436,698. Patented SeptQlG, 1890.

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Car/"@ 62" w 55/ k UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED CURRIER, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

CASTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,698, datedSeptember 16, 1890.

Application filed March 27, 1890. Serial No. 345,587. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED OURRIER, of Grand Rapids, in the county ofKent and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Casters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description of the same.

My invention above mentioned relates to casters of that class commonlyused upon furniture.

My object in making the said invention is mainly to reduce the cost ofthe article, which is made and used in immense numbers, and I have alsosecured improved quality of durabi1itya very effective connectionbetween the parts.

The invention consists in the improved connection between the spindle ofthe casterwheel frame and the socket in which the spindle is inserted.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 represents a side elevation of the spindle with the connectingdevice thereon. Fig. 2 shows a. like view of the same in place withinthe socket, part of the shell being broken away to show the connectingdevice in position. Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of a modified form ofthe device on its spindle, and Fig. 4 represents the same one-quarterturned. Fig. 5 is a-section on line was, Fig. 3.

In the drawings, A represents an ordinary form of socket, which maystand for any socket suitable to hold the spindle of a caster-wheel. Forthe purposes of this invention it may have a plain or smooth interiorsurface, or may be provided with a circumferential groove, such as thatshown at a. The spindle B, which carries the wheel I), is fitted to thesocket so as to turn therein in the usual manner, and does not differfrom ordinary spindles of its class, except that it requires acircumferential groove, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 at d and in Figs. 3and 4 at c, this groove being for the purpose of holding the wire springconnection; but spindles of this class have been heretofore made withsuch grooves, and this forms no part of my invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, which show what I regard as the best form ofmy invention, it will be seen to consist of a wire wound around the neckof the spindle and having the ends crossed or interlocked and divergingfrom the spindle. The wire, as shown, and most conveniently, is of onepiece, and is necessarily elastic. I have shown it as wound twice aboutthe neck, or in the groove, this being not essential, but for greatersecurity and better effect, as hereinafter explained. After being thuswound one or more times the ends are brought together and crossed, asshown at f, to form arms, and then are bent in a divergent directionfrom the spindle. These arms g g, when the spindle with them isinsertedin the socket, bear against the wall of the socket and hold the spindletherein. This hold may be by frictional contact alone against plainwalls, as I have have found by trial; but there may be a circumferentialgroove, as shown, in which the laterally-bent ends of the arms rest.This gives a stronger hold, and the laterally-bent ends afford a greaterfrictional bearingsurface. When compressed, the arms yield inwardly, andby reason of their leverage over the fulcrum of their crossing they gainsome elasticity also from the coils about the spindle. A second andlower groove it may be made in the spindle for the bent ends to rest inwhen. entering the socket.

In Figs. 3 and l the modification shown consists of a similar piece ofspring-Wire, the ends of which are wound upon the spindle, having awider circumferential groove. A bearing arm or loop on is left, and theends of the wire (it being a single piece) are brought around andcrossed upon the wire of the bearing-arm and bent to interlock, as shownat n. The bearing-arm is then bent aside, but is left projecting outsideof the range of the walls of the socket, so that when the spindle wit-hthe wire spring is inserted in the socket the spring will bear withsufficient tension.

. Ihave thus shown two forms; butthe springwire may be applied to thespindle in various ways not necessary to show. It is essential that thespring-wire be attached to the spindle and that some part of the wirediverge therefrom so as to bear upon the wall of the socket.

I claim 1. In combination with a caster-spindle, a diverging and havingbearings at their outer spring-retainer therefor, consisting of a wireends to engage the interior of the socket on wound about the saidspindle and having an opposite sides, substantially as described. armprojecting from the spindle, said arm In testimony whereof I have signedmy 5 having a bearing at its outer end to engage name to thisspecification in the presence of 15 the wall of the socket,substantially as detwo subscribing witnesses.

scribed. ALFRED CURRIER.

2. In combination with a caster-spindle, a Witnesses: spring-retainer,consisting of a Wire wound HENRY OSWALD, [0 about the said spindle andhaving arms g g, HARRY G. THORNTON.

